Family Fun: Holiday Festival of Trains choo-choos into view

Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun

Ken Kruger of Ellicott City holds his grandson Dempsey Kruger, 2, above the Thomas the Tank Engine display, one of several train gardens at the B&O Railroad Museum, 2711 Maryland Ave. The museum hosts the Holiday Festival of Trains, Fridays through Sundays through Jan. 29, from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Ken Kruger of Ellicott City holds his grandson Dempsey Kruger, 2, above the Thomas the Tank Engine display, one of several train gardens at the B&O Railroad Museum, 2711 Maryland Ave. The museum hosts the Holiday Festival of Trains, Fridays through Sundays through Jan. 29, from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)

This still new 2017 brings so many fantastic options for family fun, starting this weekend and coming up. Winter does not mean the end of activity; it just means more activities are inside.

The B&O Railroad Museum, 2711 Maryland Avenue, Ellicott City, hosts the Holiday Festival of Trains, Fridays through Sundays through January 29. From 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., enjoy the museum's annual holiday celebration of toy trains and model railroading. Operating model trains include: N-scale layout, children's push-button Thomas the Tank Engine O-scale layout, O-scale crazy train layout and HO-scale train layout of the first 13 miles of the B&O. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and $3 for children 2 to 12 years of age. Visit http://www.borail.org/ECS-HFOT.aspx or call 410-461-1945.

Juice Box Jams Concert & Play Time returns to Paladar Latin Kitchen and Rum Bar, 1905 Towne Centre Blvd., Suite 100. This kids event features free Face Painting, Art, Lego, and Duplo Building sessions and free Family Friendly Music. It begins at 10:30 and is one of the best ways in town to spend a Saturday morning with your kids. Great live music, great activities and food and drink for all ages.

The Crofton Library,1681 Riedel Road in Crofton, is hosting a Frozen Sing-Along. Enjoy the sights and sounds of Frozen while singing along as Amy Rondeau accompanies on the ukulele. Learn the snowman dance as well! The fun starts at 2 p.m. Regular programming is returning to all the libraries, so check out www.aacpl.net for a full schedule and more information, including toddler time, babies in bloom, and more.

Ice Skating continues at Quiet Waters Park, 600 Quiet Waters Park Road, this weekend. It is a great time out for young and old. The Rink is located in front of the Visitor Center and offers a pleasant and safe environment to enjoy ice skating outdoors.

The rink has rental skates, helmets and walkers, and rink employees can sharpen skates on site. A party room is available for birthday parties and get togethers. The Caliente Grill offers a variety of food items in the nearby Café.

The rink is open 1to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday (but is closed on Tuesdays), and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for kids 4 to 12 years of age, and free for tots 3 and under, in addition to the regular park admission fee. There is free vehicle entry to Quiet Waters Park after 5:30 p.m. during ice skating season. Multi-use passes are available and include vehicle entry permits.

Kids Eat Free at the Rams Head group restaurants on Wednesday nights. Make it a night out or a simple stop and bring your little Ram to Rams Head on Wednesday nights for a free meal. After 4 p.m., children 10 and younger receive a free meal with the purchase of an adult entrée.

Camelot continues at Compass Rose Theater, 49 Spa Road. This production is entertainment for the whole family. The story, based on the novel, The Once and Future King by T.H. White, brings to life the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Admission is $38 for adults, $33 for seniors and military with a valid ID, and $23 for students with a valid ID. Tickets are available online at www.compassrosetheater.org or by calling 410-980-6662.